Margaret Sullivan The Black Flower Seller

Hastings Library

1st Floor

Exhibition

'Revealing the Identity of the Black Flower Seller’ was part of the 'African Caribbean Seaside Memories' exhibition at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, curated by Lorna Hamilton-Brown RCA MBE of WE OUT HERE.

Claudine Eccleston, an independent researcher and founder of Playing the Race Card, is responsible for naming and uncovering the story of the Black Flower Seller who traded in St Leonards in the 1900s, bringing to light a significant but largely forgotten part of local history.

Maisha Stories Workshops - Hastings Library - Book online

Hastings Library
book via EventBrite link below
Saturday April 26 12 to 3pm
Saturday June 21 12 to 3pm
Saturday July 26 12 to 3pm
Saturday August 23 12 to 3pm
Saturday September 27 12 to 3pm

A series of free workshops across East Sussex exploring storytelling and placemaking.

Writing for wellbeing #spring

Go to eventbright site to book your ticket

Medieval Wadhurst and the Bivelham Estate with author, Tim Cornish

Wadhurst Library
Monday 9 June
2.15pm to 3.15pm

Come join local author Tim Cornish for a captivating look at life during medieval times in Wadhurst.

Using detailed records from Lambeth Palace, Tim will share what life was really like for the people who depended on farming and the local forests to make a living, while also having to win the favour of their Lords.

We'll learn about the roles of Wadhurst's medieval parish owners—the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Crown—and what it meant when traveling landlords visited, bringing both news and demands for rent.

The event is free, but booking is essential. Everyone is welcome, and you don't have to be a library member to attend.

Copies of Tim's book 'Medieval Mayfield: Archbishops and Peasants' will be available for purchase on the day for anyone who might wish to buy.

FAMILY MOSAIC DAY: workshop with Hannah Griffiths Battle Library- Book online

Battle Library
book via Battle Festival link below
Saturday July 12 11 to 12pm and 12 to 1pm

A creative and fun event for families! Come together to design a mosaic in a small tin, an image or decorative pattern of your choice.

There will be two 60 minutes sessions available 11am and 12pm. Open to all, but the under 8’s need to have a grown up with them!

TICKETS:

£10 per participating child or adult.
Children under 8 need accompanying adult.
Max 2 children per adult.

Enquiries: 07872 495237

#spring

Go to Battle Festival site to book your ticket

Meet the garden animals!

Various libraries in August
Free
Booking required

From snails to snakes, we’ll be learning about some animals you might find in the garden at this exciting animal encounter session! Observe, explore and even hold the animals with expert help from an experienced handler.

The animals featured in this event include:

Corn snake
White's Tree Frog
Cockroaches
Millipedes
Snails
Tarantula
Scorpion
Stick Insects and
Gerbils

This event is free but booking is essential. Please click the 'Register for event' button to secure your space. You do not need to be a library member to take part.

Suitable for children aged 4+. All children must be accompanied by an appropriate adult. Adults do not need to book a separate ticket for themselves.

This event is held in collaboration with Zoolab (find out more about their work here) and is part of our celebrations for this year's Summer Reading Challenge! To join the challenge, 'Story Garden', sign up online here (from 5th July 2025), or pop into your local library to find out more.

Mrs Darwin's Cleaner

Eastbourne Library
Wednesday 17 September
7pm to 8:15pm

Darwin's Cleaner is a new one woman play (written and directed by Saskia Wesnigk) which has been purposefully designed as a "theatre in unusual places piece". The play debuts at the Brighton Fringe festival in May and explores multiple areas including history, the impact of Charles Darwin, questions around status, the roles of women and hidden voices in history.